How We Score:

Global Score

The Engadget Global Score is a unique ranking of products based on extensive independent research and analysis by our expert editorial and research teams. The Global Score is arrived at only after curating hundreds, sometimes thousands of weighted data points (such as critic and user reviews).

Speed and featuresFor what I am using it for, it has been the perfect machine.great!

Design and form factorNo commentsgreat!

ExpandabilityWhile it has the basic expandability of a laptop (hard drive and RAM) rather than a desktop, it is good enough and was known going into the purchase.good

NoiseI have mine in my bedroom on hooked up to the TV as a media server, cant hear a thing.great!

Size and weightNo commentsgreat!

Power consumptionHave not had it long enough to judge, but I have it set for minimal idle use and with the TV being off most of the time, it is minimal.great!

Detailed review

I bought the Mini to be my AirPlay media server and iTunes computer. With over 500GB of iTunes music, apps, books, audiobooks and movies/TV I wanted a stand alone machine to manage everything. Since I am running in a Mac-only house and even have AirPlay on my main receiver, this ended up being the perfect piece of equipment. Within an hour of booting up and a single reboot after installing a system upgrade, everything was running and syncing wirelessly. Just like my other Apple products, this one just worked as expected without any trouble.